PDEA suspects drug trade in online shopping sites, app-based couriers

The arrested suspects and assorted drug paraphernalia presented at PDEA office. Photo by Cathrine Gonzales / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) suspects that online shopping sites and app-based delivery services are possibly being used to sell and distribute illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.

In a press conference, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said they have recovered tooters from arrested suspects Juan Carlos Reyes Antonio, a licensed pharmacist, and Nilo Manipon Ramirez, Jr., a registered nurse. The two were arrested in two separate operations on Thursday in Pasig City and Quezon City, respectively.

Aquino said the tooters recovered from the suspects were allegedly ordered and bought from online shopping sites.

According to Aquino, if drug paraphernalia can be bought from online shopping sites, it is also possible that illegal drugs are also being sold online.

Aquino added that the arrested  suspects have admitted using app-based courier services to move drugs around.

During the buy-bust operation at a Pasig City hotel at bout 2:30 a.m., PDEA agents seized from Antonio were P483,500 worth of illegal drugs, including ecstasy tablets and liquid ecstasy, “fly high’ (a mix of ecstasy and shabu), marijuana, Kush or high-grade marijuana, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Confiscated from Ramirez during a buy-bust at about 4:20 a.m. in Barangay Kamuning, in Quezon City were P142,000 worth of illegal drugs, including shabu, “fly high,” ecstasy, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Aquino said the PDEA will seek explanations from the online shopping sites and app-based courier service companies that were mentioned by the suspects.  /muf